Panic bar safety plate

ABSTRACT

A panic bar safety plate device adapted for mounting behind a panic bar secured on a door having parallel stiles and a pane, such as glass, supported therebetween, the stiles having an inner wall surface with the panic bar being mounted thereon and extending therebetween, the safety place consisting of an elongated rectangular plate-like member of a sufficient length to extend over the inner wall surface of each of the stiles behind the panic bar with the end portions of the plate secured to the stiles by bolts, screws, or the like, and resilient bumper means projecting normal from the plate in a direction toward the pane adapted for engaging the pane in a resilient manner upon excessive impact force being applied to the plate in a direction toward the pane so as to cushion the impact and transfer the major portion of the impact force to the stiles with only a small portion being resiliently transferred to the pane in a manner protecting against the possibility of breaking or damaging the pane.

United States Patent [191 Meyer 1 1. PANIC BAR SAFETY PLATE {76] Inventor: Virginia M. Meyer, 701 Smith Ave.,

Lake Bluff, 111. 60044 [22] Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,492

[52] US. Cl 49/50, 49/70, 49/460 [51] Int. Cl E06b 7/28 [58] Field of Search 49/50, 70, 61, 62, 141, 49/460, 394, 395; 16/111 R; 292/92 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,604 1/1906 Baier 49/50 X 2,510,845 6/1950 Waters et al 49/460 2,549,661 4/1951 Carney 49/50 X 2,883,714 4/1959 May 49/460 3,119,474 1/1964 Grossman 49/460 3,222,732 12/1965 Miller 16/111 R X Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Assistant ExaminerPhilip C. Kannan [451 Sept. 10, 1974 [5 7 ABSTRACT A panic bar safety plate device adapted for mounting behind a panic bar secured on a door having parallel stiles and a pane, such as glass, supported therebetween, the stiles having an inner wall surface with the panic bar being mounted thereon and extending therebetween, the safety place consisting of an elongated rectangular plate-like member of a sufficient length to extend over the inner wall surface of each of the stiles behind the panic bar with the end portions of the plate secured to the stiles by bolts, screws, or the like, and resilient bumper means projecting normal from the plate in a direction toward the pane adapted for engaging the pane in a resilient manner upon excessive impact force being applied to the plate in a direction toward the pane so as to cushion the impact and transfer the major portion of the impact force to the stiles with only a small portion being resiliently transferred to the pane in a manner protecting against the possibility of breaking or damaging the pane.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PANIC BAR SAFETY PLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to safety guard devices and more particularly to a safety plate for mounting on a door behind a panic bar for absorbing the impact force of an individuals hand slipping off or missing the panic bar in a manner to protect against the possibility of breaking the glass and minimizing the possibility of injury to the individuals hand that would otherwise occur if the safety plate was not present and the individual s hand would penetrate the glass pane.

2. Description of the Prior Art In this day and age of architectural design utilizing large amounts of glass panes with minimum amount of steel or other structural members therebetween providing a wide aesthetically pleasing appearance to an individual inside a structure looking out, and with the widespread increase of all-glass doors to complement such structures, there is an alarming increase in the amount of accidental injuries to individuals caused by either walking into or through such glass doors, or approaching the glass doors at a high rate of speed and placing ones hand outward to engage the panic bar or opening device to open the door and the accompanying accident when an individuals hand misses or slips off the bar or opening device and strikes the glass pane with sufficient impact force to break or crack the pane with the accompanying injury to the individuals hand.

While this problem of an individual s hand missing or slipping off a panic bar and breaking the glass pane has been acknowledged in industry, supermarkets, and the like, and it has recently been on the increase in schools of the primary, secondary, and advanced levels as more and more schools are built utilizing modern architectural designs requiring all-glass pane type doors. In dealing with children there are presently no devices available in the prior art which would overcome this hazard and prevent a child or adults hand from striking the glass pane upon slipping off a panic bar to open the door.

The problem of all glass pane doors has been recognized as a definite safety hazard by governments throughout the country, with many new safety standards being established, one of which is the provision of so-called safety glass in glass doors of schools. However, safety glass of the type having a wire mesh or the like laminated between two panes of glass only provides that should the glass pane break there will be no large pieces of glass clattering to the floor or jagged glass edges remaining in the door frame, but rather the glass will remain in a shattered condition in the door with whatever glass falling therefrom being in the form of small pieces which, while creating a minor hazard, still does not overcome the major hazard prior to the requirement of safety glass as to the injury of an individuals hand striking the broken glass. Thus, this still does not overcome the problem still present in that the individuals hand that slipped off or missed the panic bar and struck the glass pane with sufficient impact force to break the pane still resulted in a broken pane along with the accompanying injuries to the individual 5 hand.

It would thus be desirable to provide a safety guard device adapted for utilization on a wide variety of doors having glass panes therein for protecting the glass pane against undesirable impact forces from an individuals hand that slips off or misses a panic bar when the individual is attempting to open the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitations and deficiencies that are attendant upon the utilization of glass doors by providing a novel safety plate adapted to be mounted as a part of a door or as an accessory item in a manner extending behind the panic bar between the door stiles for intercepting a persons hand slipping off the panic bar in a direction approaching the glass pane in a manner to absorb the impact forces of the persons hand to protect against the breaking of the pane and what would be the accompanying injuries to the persons hand.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a novel safety plate for installation on doors behind panic bars in a position intermediate the panic bar and the glass pane of the door which may be readily and easily secured in position by persons skilled or unskilled with mechanics, such as handymen, school janitorial personnel, shop owners, and the like.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a safety plate of a transparent non-breakable material adapted for securement behind the panic bars to protect an individuals hand from breaking the glass pane upon slipping off or missing the panic bar, the transparency not affecting the aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance of the glass pane door.

Yet a further feature of the invention resides in a safety plate adapted for securement behind a panic bar and mounted between the door stiles in a manner transferring impact forces from a persons hand striking the safety plate to the door stiles rather than permitting the persons hand to strike and possibly break the glass pane with the accompanying injuries thereto.

The above features are achieved by providing a transparent plate like member made out of plastic, plexiglass, or the like, adapted for mounting on a portion of the door which is immediately behind a panic bar and which would normally be engaged by an individuals hand upon missing or slipping off of the panic bar, with the plate member serving to transfer the impact forces thereon away from the glass pane and onto the strong door stiles thus serving to protect the glass pane and an individual s hand from injury which would obviously be caused by broken glass.

The provision of a panic bar safety plate for utilization on doors having fragile or glass panes therein, such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the stated advantages, constitutes the principle features of the present invention. The provision of a panic bar safety plate which is simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; one which is rugged and durable and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand rough usage; one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one which may, in its entirety, be manufactured and installed as part of the original door assembly, or which may be attached to the door later as an accessory item; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following descrip tion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a door having a panic bar and a panic bar safety plate mounted thereon in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the panic bar and panic bar safety plate mounted on the door of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the panic bar safety plate of FIG. 2 illustrating the component parts thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side eleva tional view taken along Line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the panic bar safety plate;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side elevational view taken along Line 6-6 of FIG. 5 illustrating a resilient bumper attached to the safety plate;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrating an alternative embodiment of a resilient bumper secured to the mounting plate; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating yet a further alternative embodiment of a resilient bumper as being formed integrally with the safety plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings as hereinafter set forth in greater detail, it is to be understood that for purposes of convenience a more-or-less conventional type of glass pane door has been selected for illustration of the present invention, with it being understood that the safety plate of the present invention may be utilized on any type of door having a panic bar or opening device thereon requiring that the pane in the door be protected along with providing a safety protective device to prevent an individuals hand from striking and perhaps breaking the pane should the individuals hand slip off of or miss the panic bar or opening device. Further, it is to be understood that the safety plate of the present invention may be attached as part of an original assembly equipment on a door, or may be attached at a later date as an accessory feature.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, reference numeral 10 generally designates a door in which the frame portion is made of metal, wood, or any other suitable satisfactory material. Door 10 includes a pair of oppositely disposed stiles generally indicated by reference numerals 11 and 12 respectively which, as seen in FIG. 3, are of hollow rectangular construction. The stiles 11 and 12 each include oppositely disposed inside and outside wall surface portions 13 and 14 respectively. The door 10 is hinged to a door frame 15 by hinge members (not shown) carried by door frame 15 and adjacent door stile 11. A glass pane 16 is supported between the door stiles 1 1 and 12 and extends for a substantial portion of the height of the door 10.

A panic bar generally designated by reference numeral 20 includes a central bar portion 21 extending the width of the door 10 parallel to the pane 16 with the opposite ends of the bar projecting over the respective door stiles 11 and 12 and terminating in end members 22 projecting normal to the plane of the door and including end portions thereon each having a pair of vertically spaced apart apertures 23 which are in axial alignment with apertures 24 on the inner wall surfaces 13 of door stiles 11 and 12 for passage therethrough of mounting bolts 25 threadedly received by nuts (not shown) secured on the interior of the stiles in axial alignment with the apertures 24. End members 22 further serve to maintain the bar 21 of the panic bar 20 spaced a substantial distance outwardly from the glass pane 16.

Reference numeral 30 generally designates a safety plate approximately one-quarter to one-half inch in thickness and of a length sufficient to extend completely over the width of pane 16 to rest against front wall surfaces 13 of stiles 11 and 12 in a manner fitting between the end members 22 of panic bar 20 for mounting between the stiles in a position intermediate to the bar 21 and pane 16. Safety plate 30 has one end portion positioned adjacent to and partially overlying the inner wall surface 13 of stile 12 with the opposite end portion positioned adjacent to and partially overlying the inner wall surface 13 of the other stile 11. Each stile inner wall surface 13 includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart apertures 29 with each end portion of the plate 30 including a corresponding number of apertures 31 therein adapted to be aligned with the apertures in the stile inner wall surfaces and spaced outwardly therefrom by cylindrical apertured bushing members 32 interposed between the plate 30 and stile inner wall surfaces 13, and a plurality of bolts 33 each having a head portion 34 are provided, one bolt associated with each of the apertures 31, 29 and bushing member 32 for securing the plate to the inner wall surfaces 13 by passing the bolt through an aperture 31 and the aligned associated bushing member 32 from which it is threadedly received in aligned inner wall surface aperture 29 with the bolt head 34 bearing firmly against the inner surface 35 of the plate and with the outer planar surface 36 of the plate resting against the stiles 11 and 12. To discourage tampering and attempted re moval of the plate 30 from he door 10, the heads 34 of each bolt 33 are preferably of an anti-tampering design with an example being illustrated of the head including two spaced apart apertures therein requiring the utilization of a special tool (not shown) for both inserting and removal of the bolts 33.

While it is acknowledged that the plate 30 may be of a sufficient thickness and strength to resist the impact forces of an individual's hand slipping off or missing panic bar 20 and striking the safety plate there behind, it is preferable that resilient bumper means be spaced along the length of the plate 30 in a manner projecting substantially normal to the outer plate surface 36 and extending along the plate between the stiles 11 and 12 for resilient engagement with the glass pane 16 should an excessive impact force be encountered by the safety plate such that the major portion of the impact force will be transferred by the plate to the stiles with the resilient bumpers serving to cushion the glass pane 16 against excessive vibratory or secondary impact forces.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the bumpers are generally designated by reference numeral 40 and are illustrated projecting from outer surface 36 of plate in a direction normal thereto toward the glass pane 16. It is envisioned that a greater number of resilient bumpers or a lesser number of resilient bumpers may be provided along the plate 30, depending upon the width of the pane 16, but normally a total of 6 bumpers will suffice. Further, it is envisioned that rather than utilizing separate bumpers a resilient strip of material could be provided extending along the top and bottom edges of the plate projecting between the plate and the glass pane and which would serve the same purpose as the bumpers illustrated, but again for practical purposes it has been found that individual bumpers are more durable in usage and provide a better impact force transferring capability than would a resilient strip of material. However, the resilient strip of material would perform quite satisfactorily in a great variety of procedures.

There are numerous mounting procedures available for securing the bumpers 40 to the plate 30, but as the stiles 11 and 12 for a great variety of doors are different in thickness with the distances between the inner wall surfaces 13 and the inner surface of the pane 16 being different for different door structures, it has been found desirable to provide the bumpers 40 separate from the plate 30 and in a variety of lengths permitting the installer to select the correct length to project between the mounted position of the plate 30 and the adjacent parallel surface of the pane 16, with the installer then mounting the selected bumpers onto the plate.

Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 6, the bumpers 40 are cylindrical in shape with one end thereof being supplied with a contact type adhesive 50 having a removeable protective paper or tape type covering thereover (not shown) during shipping such that the installer selects the desired bumper 40, removes the protective paper strip from over the adhesive 50, and then applies the bumper to the outer surface 36 of the plate 30 in the indicated bumper position.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 7, in order to insure that the bumpers 40 are properly positioned on plate 30, the plate is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 60 for positioning bumpers 40 therein, the bumpers 40 being flexible and having an annular groove 61 in one end portion thereof having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of aperture 50 with a resilient enlarged portion 62 formed on the innermost end of the bumper such that after a bumper of the desired length is selected by the installer, the innermost end is forced axially through an associated aperture 60 until groove 61 is secured in plate 30 with end 62 engaging the innermost surface of the plate.

A simpler version of a bumper is seen in FIG. 8 where the bumper is formed integrally with the plate 30 and projects therefrom a nominal distance toward the pane 60 to engage the pane in cases of exceptional impact forces being applied to the plate in the direction of the pane with such forces being so great as to flex and bow the plate inwardly toward the pane at which time the integrally formed bumper will engage the pane 16 to assist in transferring the impact forces to a slight degree to the pane 16 in a manner further distributing the impact forces between the stiles 11 and 12 and the pane to protect the pane and prevent injury to an individuals hand by the pane.

It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention are envisioned, such as the aforementioned utilization of flexible resilient strips between the plate and the pane, such as foam rubber and the like, as well as other structures for bumpers 40 within the scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A panic bar safety plate device adapted for mounting behind a panic bar secured on a door having parallel stiles and a pane, such as glass, supported therebetween, the stiles having an inner wall and an outer wall with the panic bar being mounted on the inner walls and extending therebetween, the device comprising an elongated rectangularly shaped substantially flat plate type member of a sufficient length to extend between the stiles and over a portion of the inner wall of each stile in a position behind the panic bar and disposed intermediate the panic bar and the pane and in substantially parallel juxtaposition to the pane, the plate having one end portion positioned adjacent to and partially overlying the inner wall surface of one of the stiles and an opposite end portion positioned adjacent to and partially overlying the inner wall surface of the other one of the stiles, each stile inner wall including a plurality of spaced apart apertures and each plate end portion including a corresponding number of spaced apart apertures adapted to be aligned with the apertures in the stile inner wall; bolt means extending through each pair of aligned apertures in the plate and stile inner wall for securing the plate to the stile; and bumper means projecting outwardly from the plate toward the pane and spaced along the length of the plate between the stiles, the bumper means adapted for engaging the pane in a resilient manner upon excessive impact forces being exerted on the plate in a direction toward the pane and stiles with the bumper means acting to cushion the impact and transfer the major portion of the impact force to the stiles and to transfer any slight impact force remaining to the pane upon bowing or flexing of the plate in the direction of the pane.

2. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of bushing members being provided, one bushing member being associated with each of the aligned apertures in the stile inner wall surfaces and the plate end portions, the bushing members each disposed intermediate the plate and stiles and aligned with the aforementioned apertures for receiving the bolt therethrough in a manner increasing the spacing between the plate and pane to increase the permissible bowing of the plate inwardly toward the pane upon impact prior to the bumper means engaging the pane.

3. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by the plate member being of a transparent breakresistant material providing an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance when mounted on the door in the intended manner.

4. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the bumper means comprising a plurality of spaced apart resilient bumpers each having one end secured to the surface of the plate adjacent the pane with the opposite end extending substantially normal to the plane of the plate for engagement with the pane upon excessive inward bowing of the plate to transfer some of the excess forces to the pane in a manner to prevent the breaking of the plate to prevent an individuals hand from passing therethrough into the pane, the bumpers being formed integrally with the plate.

5. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the bumper means comprising a plurality of spaced apart individual resilient bumpers each having one end secured to the plate with the opposite end projecting therefrom normal to the plane of the plate in a direction toward the pane for engagement with the pane upon excessive flexing of the plate, the end of the bumper adjacent the plate secured thereto by a contact type of adhesive.

6. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the plate member being of a transparent breakresistant material providing an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance when mounted on the door in the intended manner.

7. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the bumper means comprising a multiplicity of spaced apart resilient independent bumper members each having one end adapted for mounting to the plate with the opposite end extending perpendicular therefrom in the direction toward the pane for engagement therewith upon excessive inward flexing, the plate provided with a plurality of spaced apart bumper receiving apertures, each aperture adapted for receiving a single bumper member therein, each resilient bumper member having an annular groove adjacent one end portion adapted to be received in the plate aperture, the groove being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the plate aperture, the end portion of the bumper member having the annular groove being placed adjacent the face of the plate nearest the pane with the bumper member then being axially inserted into the plate bumper aperture until the annular groove is received in the aperture in a manner to securely mount the bumper therein.

8. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by the plate member being of a transparent breakresistant material providing an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance when mounted on the door in the intended manner. 

1. A panic bar safety plate device adapted for mounting behind a panic bar secured on a door having parallel stiles and a pane, such as glass, supported therebetween, the stiles having an inner wall and an outer wall with the panic bar being mounted on the inner walls and extending therebetween, the device comprising an elongated rectangularly shaped substantially flat plate type member of a sufficient length to extend between the stiles and over a portion of the inner wall of each stile in a position behind the panic bar and disposed intermediate the panic bar and the pane and in substantially parallel juxtapOsition to the pane, the plate having one end portion positioned adjacent to and partially overlying the inner wall surface of one of the stiles and an opposite end portion positioned adjacent to and partially overlying the inner wall surface of the other one of the stiles, each stile inner wall including a plurality of spaced apart apertures and each plate end portion including a corresponding number of spaced apart apertures adapted to be aligned with the apertures in the stile inner wall; bolt means extending through each pair of aligned apertures in the plate and stile inner wall for securing the plate to the stile; and bumper means projecting outwardly from the plate toward the pane and spaced along the length of the plate between the stiles, the bumper means adapted for engaging the pane in a resilient manner upon excessive impact forces being exerted on the plate in a direction toward the pane and stiles with the bumper means acting to cushion the impact and transfer the major portion of the impact force to the stiles and to transfer any slight impact force remaining to the pane upon bowing or flexing of the plate in the direction of the pane.
 2. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of bushing members being provided, one bushing member being associated with each of the aligned apertures in the stile inner wall surfaces and the plate end portions, the bushing members each disposed intermediate the plate and stiles and aligned with the aforementioned apertures for receiving the bolt therethrough in a manner increasing the spacing between the plate and pane to increase the permissible bowing of the plate inwardly toward the pane upon impact prior to the bumper means engaging the pane.
 3. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by the plate member being of a transparent breakresistant material providing an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance when mounted on the door in the intended manner.
 4. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the bumper means comprising a plurality of spaced apart resilient bumpers each having one end secured to the surface of the plate adjacent the pane with the opposite end extending substantially normal to the plane of the plate for engagement with the pane upon excessive inward bowing of the plate to transfer some of the excess forces to the pane in a manner to prevent the breaking of the plate to prevent an individual''s hand from passing therethrough into the pane, the bumpers being formed integrally with the plate.
 5. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the bumper means comprising a plurality of spaced apart individual resilient bumpers each having one end secured to the plate with the opposite end projecting therefrom normal to the plane of the plate in a direction toward the pane for engagement with the pane upon excessive flexing of the plate, the end of the bumper adjacent the plate secured thereto by a contact type of adhesive.
 6. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the plate member being of a transparent breakresistant material providing an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance when mounted on the door in the intended manner.
 7. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the bumper means comprising a multiplicity of spaced apart resilient independent bumper members each having one end adapted for mounting to the plate with the opposite end extending perpendicular therefrom in the direction toward the pane for engagement therewith upon excessive inward flexing, the plate provided with a plurality of spaced apart bumper receiving apertures, each aperture adapted for receiving a single bumper member therein, each resilient bumper member having an annular groove adjacent one end portion adapted to be received in the plate aperture, the groove being of a diamEter substantially equal to the diameter of the plate aperture, the end portion of the bumper member having the annular groove being placed adjacent the face of the plate nearest the pane with the bumper member then being axially inserted into the plate bumper aperture until the annular groove is received in the aperture in a manner to securely mount the bumper therein.
 8. A panic bar safety plate device as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by the plate member being of a transparent breakresistant material providing an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance when mounted on the door in the intended manner. 